Housing component and friction surface structural assembly for a hydrodynamic clutch device and method for the production thereof

Abstract

A housing component for a hydrodynamic clutch device, especially a hydrodynamic torque converter, possesses a friction surface region for a converter lock-up clutch of the clutch device on a first side which is positionable for facing the interior of the clutch device. This housing component is formed by, at least in the region of the friction surface region, the reshaping of a metal component. On a second side of the housing component lying opposite to the first side a surface structuring is formed in a region corresponding to the friction surface region by reshaping of the metal component to form the friction surface region.

We claim:  
     
       1. A housing component for a hydrodynamic clutch device having a converter lock-up clutch, comprising: 
       a component formed from a substantially planar metal blank having a first side and a second side opposing said first side:  
       a friction surface region arranged on the first side of said component; and  
       a surface structuring comprising one of a notch and a groove arranged on said second side of said component in a region corresponding to said friction surface region, wherein said friction surface region and said surface structuring are simultaneously formed by reshaping of said component to form said friction surface region and wherein said surface structuring is operatively arranged for producing dislocations in a metal lattice of said component during the reshaping of said metal component which contribute to increased rigidity of said component in said region corresponding to said friction surface region.  
     
     
       2. The housing component of claim  1 , wherein said surface structuring comprises at least one groove-like recessed area extending substantially circumferentially. 
     
     
       3. The housing component of claim  1 , further comprising a disk-like connecting member and said component comprises a plurality of connecting sections integrally formed thereon for coupling said component to said disk-like connecting member. 
     
     
       4. The housing component of claim  3 , wherein said plurality of connecting sections comprise connection projections formed by reshaping said component, said connection projections being deformable for securely coupling said component to said connecting member. 
     
     
       5. The housing component of claim  1 , wherein said component comprises a further reshaped region comprising a centering section for connection of said metal blank to a further housing component. 
     
     
       6. A frictional surface structural assembly for a converter lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic clutch device having a bearing section, comprising: 
       a piston member having a first side and a second side opposing said first side;  
       a friction surface region arranged on said first side of said piston member for contacting a counter-friction surface of the converter lock-up clutch; and  
       a surface structuring comprising one of a groove and a notch arranged on said second side of said piston member in a region corresponding to said friction surface region, wherein said friction surface region and said surface structuring are simultaneously formed by reshaping of said piston member to form said friction surface region and wherein said surface structuring is operatively arranged for producing dislocations in a metal lattice of said piston member during the reshaping of said piston member which contribute to increased rigidity of said piston member in said region corresponding to said friction surface region.  
     
     
       7. The friction surface structural assembly of claim  6 , wherein said surface structuring comprises at least one groove-like recessed area extending circumferentially. 
     
     
       8. The friction surface structural assembly of claim  6 , wherein said piston member further comprises a bearing section for supporting the piston member on the bearing section of the hydrodynamic clutch device. 
     
     
       9. The friction surface structural assembly of claim  6 , further comprising an entraining member coupled to said piston member for mutual rotation and connectable with the bearing section of the hydrodynamic clutch device. 
     
     
       10. The friction surface structural assembly of claim  9 , further comprising a coupling member connected between said piston member and said entraining member, wherein a plurality of integrally designed coupling projections are arranged on said piston member and on said entraining member for connecting said piston member and said entraining member, respectively, to said coupling member. 
     
     
       11. The friction surface structural assembly of claim  10 , wherein said plurality of coupling projections are formed by reshaping and are deformed for securely connecting said piston member and said entraining member to said coupling member. 
     
     
       12. A hydrodynamic clutch device having a converter lock-up clutch, comprising: 
       a housing component formed from a substantially planar metal blank having a first side and a second side opposing said first side, a first friction surface region for the converter lock-up clutch arranged on the first side of said housing component for facing an interior of said clutch device; and a first surface structuring comprising one of a notch and a groove arranged on said second side of said housing component in a region corresponding to said friction surface region, wherein said first friction surface region and said first surface structuring are simultaneously formed by reshaping of said housing component to form said first friction surface region and wherein said first surface structuring is operatively arranged for producing dislocations in a metal lattice of said housing component during the reshaping of said housing component which contribute to increased rigidity of said housing component in said region corresponding to said first friction surface region; and  
       a friction surface structural assembly for the converter lock-up clutch including a piston member having a first side and a second side opposing said first side, a second friction surface region arranged on said first side of said piston member for contacting the first friction surface, and a second surface structuring comprising one of a notch and a groove arranged on said second side of said piston member in a region corresponding to said second friction surface region, wherein said second friction surface region and said second surface structuring are simultaneously formed by reshaping of said piston to form said second friction surface region and wherein said second surface structuring is operatively arranged for producing dislocations in a metal lattice of said piston member during the reshaping of said piston member which contribute to increased rigidity of said piston member in said region corresponding to said second friction surface region.  
     
     
       13. A method for producing a housing component for a hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising the steps of: 
       a) providing a metal blank for the housing component having a first and a second side;  
       b) reshaping the metal blank to form a friction surface region on a first side of the metal blank; and  
       c) forming a surface structuring comprising one of a notch and a groove on the second side of the metal blank lying opposite the first side in a region corresponding to the friction surface region thereby effecting a plastic flow of the material of the metal blank during said step b) and producing dislocations in a metal lattice of said metal blank which contribute to increased stability in the region corresponding to the friction surface region.  
     
     
       14. The method of claim  13 , wherein said step c) further comprises forming a surface structuring comprising at least one groove-like recessed area extending circumferentially. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim  13 , further comprising the step of reshaping the metal blank to form at least one connection projection on the second side of the metal blank. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of reshaping the metal blank to form a centering section in a region provided to be connected to a further housing component. 
     
     
       17. A method for producing a friction surface member for a converter lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising the steps of: 
       a) providing a metal blank for the friction surface member having a first side and a second side;  
       b) reshaping the metal blank to form a friction surface region on the first side of the metal blank; and  
       c) forming a surface structuring comprising one of a notch and a groove on the second side of the metal blank lying opposite to the first side in a region corresponding to the friction surface region thereby effecting a plastic flow of the material of the metal blank during said step b) and producing dislocations in a metal lattice of said metal blank which contribute to increased stability in the region corresponding to the friction surface region.  
     
     
       18. The method of claim  17 , wherein said step c) further comprises forming a surface structuring comprising at least one groove-like recessed area extending circumferentially. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  17 , further comprising the step of forming at least one coupling projection on the second side of the metal blank.